General Information

The Certificate in Infection Control Coordinator is a three-month paramedical program offered by Mahatma Gandhi Ayurvigyan Vidyapeeth. It provides foundational training in microbiological concepts, hospital-acquired infection prevention, sterilization techniques, and biomedical waste protocols. Students learn systematic surveillance methods and standard sanitary practices required to maintain hygienic healthcare environments and support safety protocols in hospitals, clinical laboratories, and allied healthcare facilities.

1. Course Duration: 3 Months
2. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 with Science or equivalent qualification
3. Course Category: PARAMEDICAL
4. Total Marks: 600 (Theory 600, 6 subjects)

Course Objectives

• Teach fundamental microbiology principles related to common pathogenic organisms in clinical environments.
• Train learners in standard sterilization methods, disinfection techniques, and aseptic practices in hospitals.
• Provide knowledge of hospital-acquired infection management, outbreak control, and relevant biomedical waste protocols.
• Develop skills in infection surveillance, data documentation, and compliance with clinical hygiene guidelines.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand basic microbiological mechanisms and transmission routes of infectious agents.
• Apply proper sterilization and disinfection procedures in healthcare settings accurately.
• Identify, monitor, and report hospital-acquired infections following institutional protocols.
• Segregate, handle, and dispose of biomedical waste according to regulatory standards.
• Conduct routine infection surveillance and maintain accurate hygiene audit records.

Pass & Division Criteria

The maximum marks and minimum pass marks of Theory and Practical of each subject are given in the Mark Distribution table below. To pass, a candidate must score the minimum pass marks separately in both Theory and Practical of every subject.

The division is decided on the aggregate percentage of marks obtained, as follows —

Mark Distribution

Total marks of the course : 600

Detailed Syllabus

1. Introduction to Medical Microbiology — Study the history of microbiology, classification of microorganisms, and general characteristics of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in healthcare environments.
2. Bacterial Structure and Morphology — Learn bacterial cell anatomy, shapes, arrangements, staining characteristics, bacterial spores, flagella, and methods used for basic microscopic identification.
3. Microbial Growth and Nutrition — Understand bacterial growth requirements, growth phases, culture media types, and environmental factors influencing survival, multiplication, and colonization in hospitals.
4. Normal Microbial Flora of Humans — Examine the distribution of normal flora across body sites, protective functions, and conditions triggering opportunistic pathogenic transitions in vulnerable patients.
5. Virology and Common Hospital Viruses — Explore basic viral structure, replication cycles, transmission modes, and common hospital-associated viruses including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.
6. Medical Mycology and Parasitology — Learn opportunistic fungal infections like Candida and Aspergillus, alongside clinically relevant parasites, their diagnostic features, and persistence in hospital surroundings.
7. Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenicity — Understand virulence factors, toxin production, endotoxins, exotoxins, tissue invasion strategies, and host defense evasion mechanisms utilized by hospital pathogens.
8. Antimicrobial Resistance and Superbugs — Study mechanisms of drug resistance, multidrug-resistant organisms including MRSA, VRE, and CRE, and implications of antibiotic abuse in clinical settings.
9. Specimen Collection and Transport — Review correct procedures for collecting, labeling, storing, and safely transporting clinical samples to prevent contamination and ensure accurate laboratory results.

1. Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control — Understand basic concepts, historical perspective, international and national guidelines, and the role of an infection control coordinator in hospitals.
2. Chain of Infection and Transmission Modes — Analyze infectious agents, reservoirs, portals of exit, modes of transmission, portals of entry, and susceptible hosts to break transmission cycles.
3. Hand Hygiene Protocols and Compliance — Learn WHO five moments of hand hygiene, proper handwashing techniques, alcohol-based hand rub usage, skin care, and monitoring staff compliance.
4. Standard Precautions in Healthcare — Explore universal work precautions, safe injection practices, cough etiquette, patient placement, and handling of potentially infectious clinical materials and equipment.
5. Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines — Study selection, donning, doffing, disposal, and auditing of personal protective equipment including gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eye protection gear.
6. Transmission-Based Isolation Precautions — Examine contact, droplet, and airborne isolation protocols, negative pressure rooms, protective environments for immunocompromised patients, and cohorting strategies.
7. Occupational Health and Safety — Understand needle-stick injury prevention, post-exposure prophylaxis protocols, healthcare worker immunizations, and management of bloodborne pathogen exposures in hospitals.
8. Biomedical Waste Management Rules — Review Indian biomedical waste management legislation, waste segregation at source, color-coded bin categories, handling, storage, and final safe disposal.
9. Hospital Environmental Cleaning and Sanitation — Learn cleaning schedules, frequency, detergent selection, high-touch surface disinfection, spill management protocols, and cleanliness monitoring in clinical areas.

1. Overview of Healthcare-Associated Infections — Define hospital-acquired infections, their clinical and financial impact, risk factors, common etiologic agents, and basic prevention strategies across wards.
2. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections — Study CAUTI definitions, pathogenesis, indwelling urinary catheter insertion and maintenance care bundles, early catheter removal protocols, and diagnostic criteria.
3. Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections — Learn CLABSI pathogenesis, insertion site selection, maximal sterile barrier precautions, line maintenance bundles, dressing changes, and prompt line removal strategies.
4. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention — Understand VAP etiology, diagnostic criteria, ventilator bundle components, head-of-bed elevation, oral hygiene, endotracheal suctioning, and sedation vacation protocols.
5. Surgical Site Infection Prevention — Explore SSI risk factors, preoperative patient preparation, surgical antibiotic prophylaxis timing, intraoperative wound care, and postoperative aseptic wound management bundles.
6. HAI Surveillance Methodologies — Learn active and passive surveillance, target populations, case finding techniques, numerator and denominator data collection, and device-day calculation methods.
7. Infection Rate Calculations and Reporting — Master computation of device-associated infection rates, surgical site infection rates, statistical data interpretation, and generating surveillance reports for committees.
8. Outbreak Investigation and Management — Study the systematic steps of hospital outbreak investigations, epidemic curves, source tracing, control measures implementation, and final reporting procedures.
9. Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Coordination — Understand the coordinator role in hospital antibiotic policy implementation, tracking antimicrobial consumption, monitoring antibiograms, and promoting rational antibiotic usage.

1. Principles of Decontamination and Reprocessing — Understand Spaulding classification of medical devices, differences between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and workflow organization in processing areas.
2. Cleaning and Pre-treatment of Instruments — Learn point-of-use pre-cleaning, manual washing protocols, enzymatic detergents, automated washer-disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaning, and inspection of surgical instruments.
3. Physical Methods of Sterilization — Study steam sterilization, autoclave cycles, dry heat sterilization, hot air ovens, operating parameters, and appropriate instrument packaging techniques.
4. Chemical and Low-Temperature Sterilization — Explore ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, peracetic acid systems, operational parameters, safety precautions, and aeration requirements.
5. Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics — Examine high, intermediate, and low-level disinfectants including glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehyde, hypochlorite, and chlorhexidine, noting contact times and dilution ratios.
6. Central Sterile Services Department Operations — Study CSSD zoning, clean and dirty area separation, airflow requirements, packaging material selection, wrapping techniques, and sterile storage conditions.
7. Sterilization Monitoring and Quality Assurance — Learn mechanical, chemical indicators, biological indicators, Bowie-Dick testing, routine verification protocols, and documentation required for cycle release.
8. Reprocessing of Flexible Endoscopes — Master endoscope cleaning, leak testing, manual and automated high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, storage guidelines, and microbiological surveillance testing.
9. Quality Audits and Recall Protocols — Understand root cause analysis, managing sterilization failures, wet pack investigations, recall policies, audit checklists, and legal recordkeeping standards.

1. Introduction to Biomedical Waste Rules in India — Overview of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 and amendments, definition of healthcare waste, regulatory authorities, and legal liabilities for Indian healthcare facilities.
2. Categorization and Segregation at Source — Principles of waste segregation at generation point using color-coded bins, liners specifications, barcoding system, and classification of hazardous versus non-hazardous waste.
3. Management of Yellow Category Waste — Handling anatomical waste, soiled dressings, expired pharmaceuticals, chemical waste, cytotoxic drugs, microbiological cultures, and appropriate dual-chamber incineration requirements.
4. Management of Red Category Waste — Identification and handling of recyclable contaminated plastic waste like IV sets, tubing, catheters, urine bags, autoclaving protocols, and shredding requirements.
5. White Translucent Container and Sharps Management — Safe containment of needles, scalpels, and contaminated sharps in puncture-proof containers, prevention of needle-stick injuries, mutilation, and dry heat sterilization methods.
6. Blue Category Waste and Glassware Handling — Segregation, collection, and chemical disinfection of broken or intact glassware, metallic implants, and specialized recycling routes according to statutory environmental norms.
7. Collection, Internal Transport, and Storage — Routing protocols, dedicated transport trolleys, maximum 48-hour storage limitations, safety of waste holding areas, and prevention of odor, pests, or animal scavenging.
8. Treatment Technologies and Common Treatment Facilities — Principles of autoclaving, hydroclaving, microwave treatment, shredding, deep burial standards, and tie-ups with Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities across India.
9. Liquid Waste and Effluent Treatment Plants — Disinfection of laboratory waste liquids, hospital drainage systems, chemical neutralization, operation of Effluent Treatment Plants, and compliance with pollution board standards.
10. Occupational Safety, PPE, and Immunization — Personal protective equipment for waste handlers, mandatory Hepatitis B and Tetanus immunization, post-exposure prophylaxis, accidental spill protocols, and regular medical check-ups.
11. Auditing, Record Keeping, and Annual Reporting — Maintenance of daily waste generation logs, barcoded tracking registers, accident reporting using Form I, and submission of annual reports to state pollution boards.

1. Principles of Healthcare-Associated Infection Surveillance — Fundamentals of HAI surveillance, active versus passive surveillance, target populations, standard diagnostic criteria, and role of the infection control coordinator in monitoring.
2. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections — Diagnostic definitions, insertion and maintenance bundles, aseptic catheterization techniques, risk assessment, catheter removal criteria, and calculating CAUTI incidence rates per catheter days.
3. Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections — Pathogenesis, maximum sterile barrier precautions during insertion, chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, daily line need review, hub disinfection protocols, and CLABSI surveillance methodology.
4. Surgical Site Infection Surveillance and Prevention — Classification of surgical wounds, preoperative bathing, surgical scrub, appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis timing, intraoperative asepsis, post-discharge surveillance, and calculating SSI rates.
5. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Respiratory Bundles — Definitions of VAP, ventilator bundle implementation including head-of-bed elevation, oral care with chlorhexidine, subglottic suctioning, sedation vacations, and device day calculations.
6. Hand Hygiene Protocols and Compliance Monitoring — WHO five moments of hand hygiene, hand rub versus hand wash procedures, monitoring compliance through direct observation, alcohol-based rub preparation, and audit reporting.
7. Standard and Transmission-Based Isolation Precautions — Application of contact, droplet, and airborne precautions, negative pressure isolation rooms, cohorting patients, PPE donning and doffing techniques, and patient transfer guidelines.
8. Disinfection and Sterilization Practices — Spaulding classification of medical devices, operation of CSSD, high-level disinfection, chemical and biological indicators, autoclave validation, and endoscope reprocessing standards.
9. Environmental Cleaning and Microbiological Sampling — Cleaning schedules for high-touch surfaces, terminal cleaning protocols, disinfectant selection, air quality monitoring in operation theaters, and settling plate air sampling.
10. Outbreak Investigation and Antimicrobial Stewardship — Steps of hospital outbreak detection, epidemic curve analysis, contact tracing, containment strategies, monitoring multidrug-resistant organisms, and coordinating hospital antibiotic policy implementation.